Pictured above: Garrett and Lizzie Reese, with their son Nolan, leaned into their marriage and faith to endure a premature delivery far away from home.

If you look online, Edward Hospital’s Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is described as having "board-certified neonatologists and experienced neonatal nurses available 24/7 to treat any unexpected issues that may arise. We also provide the services of case managers, social workers, respiratory therapists, speech therapists, physical therapists and pastoral care, as well as pediatric subspecialists if needed."

This statement rings true when you hear the story of Nolan Reese, a preemie born at Edward Hospital to parents visiting from Texas. Neonatologists, obstetricians and nurses did their part for the health and well-being of Nolan and his mom, Lizzie.

The family’s total care extended far beyond the bedside staff to social workers and case managers who helped Lizzie and her husband, Garrett, feel grounded and connected during her 21-day stay in antepartum (the period before childbirth) and Nolan’s 43-day NICU admission. The team also coordinated Nolan's transport to a NICU in Texas, so the family could return home.

The journey begins

Lizzie was 26 weeks pregnant when she flew from Texas to Illinois to visit her two sisters and new nieces. Lizzie, who grew up in Bolingbrook, transformed into a Texan while attending Texas Christian University, where she met Garrett. After college, the coupled traveled around Texas and Florida for Garrett's advanced U.S. Navy flight training, which currently has them in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Soon after arriving in Illinois, Lizzie did not feel well.

She says, "The morning after I arrived, I went to an urgent care and they quickly identified that something wasn’t quite right and sent me to the emergency room. I came to Edward Hospital because both of my sisters recently delivered there and my family is familiar with the hospital." It’s where Lizzie herself was born.

Lizzie was told she would stay in the hospital until she delivered the baby because her water broke. Knowing they were in for the long haul, Garrett was granted emergency leave from the military, rescheduling his training and drove to Illinois with their dog, Blakely.

Keeping Lizzie relaxed and focused fell to Garrett and the Edward Hospital staff, along with Lizzie’s family who took turns visiting according to COVID-19 protocols.

During the stay, social workers coordinated an outside field trip for Lizzie and a visit from Blakely.

Pictured above: Lizzie Reese had some personal dog therapy while in antepartum at Edward Hospital when her dog Blakely came to visit.

Beyond dog therapy, Lizzie leaned hard into her marriage. She explains, "We are very grateful to have a strong and healthy marriage where we can rely heavily on each other. In some ways, being a military family has really prepared us; we are familiar with being in transition and feeling unsettled, we know how to work with one another well, we frequently get to know new people, and we’ve learned to be flexible when plans change. While in antepartum, we had a Bible verse of the day written on the board and prayed together regularly. Trusting in God’s good and perfect will has given us so much peace."

Full circle

Once in the NICU with 29-week Nolan, Lizzie's circle got closer. Lizzie spent eight days in the Edward Hospital NICU after she was born 24 years ago. Her neonatologist at the time was Bob Covert, M.D., an independent neonatologist and medical director of the Edward Hospital NICU — the same doctor who was now taking care of Nolan. 

"After hearing Lizzie's story, that she grew up here and was a NICU baby herself, I realized that I took care of her," Dr. Covert says. "I hope the connection made Lizzie feel that much more at home with us."

Lizzie says it was so cool to see the story come full circle. She says, “Aside from the unique connection, we are also just immensely grateful for Dr. Covert because of his expertise and experience in this field. He is an excellent doctor, so responsive to our questions and very proactive in caring for Nolan. It was easy for us to quickly trust in his knowledge and discernment.”

Pictured above: Lizzie Reese, born at Edward hospital 24 years ago, was cared for in the NICU by Dr. Bob Covert who also took care of her son, Nolan.

On the road

In January, Nolan was not ready to go home, but he was stable enough to be transported via a medical team to Corpus Christi Medical Center. Kerry Sharar, case manager, worked with the insurance company, transport team and both hospitals to coordinate the trip. Her job was not easy with high winds delaying the flight twice and insurance approval delaying it one more time. Then finally, Lizzie and Nolan flew back to Texas, while Garrett and Blakely drove home towing a freezer of breastmilk.

"We were excited to finish Nolan’s nursery and get to know our community in Corpus Christi! Since he came so early, and we had just moved to Texas about three weeks before everything began in Naperville, the nursery was still completely full of boxes and empty of furniture!" Lizzie says.

Gratitude

If you were to meet Garrett and Lizzie, they will gush about becoming parents. Their excitement was visible and somewhat contagious to the Edward Hospital staff who stood by their sides through the low moments, celebrated the high moments and got them home to Texas to start a new chapter.

Lizzie says, "From working in a visit from my dog when in antepartum, to Kerry working tirelessly to coordinate a medical transport back to Texas, to all his nurses, especially Inger Malone and Laura Flynn who spent so much time answering all my questions and providing nurture and love far beyond medical care, to all the doctors who work as such a well-designed team, Edward Hospital is unmatched. The NICU provided such peace for us as new parents and allowed us to just focus on the joy of our sweet baby. We are eternally grateful.”

Some babies are born needing special care. At Edward-Elmhurst Health, we’re fully equipped to care for newborns who require special attention, such as extremely premature infants, infants on ventilators and newborns with congenital conditions.

Edward Hospital provides a Level III NICU—with the capabilities to treat the sickest and most fragile newborns of all gestational ages, including those with a variety of congenital and surgical conditions. Elmhurst Hospital provides a Level IIe Special Care Nursery with extended capabilities to care for low birth weight and premature infants, as well as infants on ventilators, at 30 or more weeks gestation.

Learn more about the NICU and Special Care Nursery at Edward-Elmhurst Health.